Atheist Billboards Go Up in Chico, California

There are twelve of these billboards all across the city of Chico, put up by the United Coalition of Reason at a cost of $3,780.

“We want to let the general public know that we belong to the larger community,” said George Gold, coordinator of the Butte County Coalition of Reason, today.

“We non-theists are your family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers. We’re just like you, except we don’t believe in a supreme being. It’s about time we were equally free to be open about our views,” Gold added.

I love the background design on these billboards. And while the message has had some critics (Capitalizing God?! Joining a “club”?!), the bigger question now is how the community will respond to the signs: with respect or with vandalism.